Disclaimer: I don't own them. I only own Ellen and her family.
The first few days in London flew by. Evelyn was busy working at the museum and Rick was busy dealing with the finances and some of the workers that they had hired to help around the house. Everything was perfect. The fight that they had shared earlier had strengthened their relationship and had brought them closer together.
Soon Friday arrived and at first both had been reluctant to go to the party. But after realizing that it would be a perfect opportunity for Evelyn to show off Rick and a perfect opportunity for Rick to get to know her friends, both decided to go.
As the hour drew nearer, Rick and Evelyn were busy getting ready.
Rick looked himself over in the mirror. He was wearing a simple tuxedo, complete with the bow tie. Rick hated wearing bow ties. He had only worn one at their wedding because Jonathan kept on insisting. Rick quickly undid the tie and threw it on the dresser; next he unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt. ' Much better,' Rick thought.
" Evy, baby. You almost ready?" Rick called into her dressing room. Evelyn had gone shopping for a dress and the one that she had bought; he had yet to see. And considering the bill for it, he really wanted to see it.
" I'll be out in just a minute. Patience is a virtue you know." Evelyn called back a bit testily, angry at having being rushed.
" Not right now it isn't." Rick muttered as he looked down at his watch.
" I heard that." Evelyn said stepping out of her dressing room. Rick turned to look at her. Evelyn looked amazing. The dress that she had bought was sleeveless black satin. Cut to show off the curves of her body and the neckline was high enough to be modest but high enough to show some flare. Her neck, normally occupied by her golden locket that contained the pictures of her parents, was bare. " Help me put this on will you?" Evelyn asked as she held out a thin diamond necklace to Rick. He took it from her and placed it around her neck and then fastened it.
Rick then kissed the back of her neck and made his way over to her shoulder. " Can't we just stay home?" he murmured as his lips made their way to her hair, which was piled on top of her head in a curly up-do.
" No, we are going to this party. Besides, it would be rude not to show up." Evelyn said as she broke away from her husband and headed out of their room. Rick just let out a disappointed groan and followed her out.
The party was being held at the Knowlton mansion. When Evelyn and Rick arrived, many of the guests were already there. As the couple descended the main staircase that led down to the main hall, all heads turned in their direction. A slight hush came over the earlier noisy crowd as they saw Evelyn Carnahan enter with this stranger.
But Evelyn and Rick casually arm in arm descended the staircase, as if nothing was different. The host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Knowlton then greeted them.
" Well Evy, goodness you look absolutely stunning." greeted Mrs. Knowlton as she kissed Evelyn on the cheek. " And you must be Mr. O'Conell, Ellen has told me all about you." Mrs. Knowlton was looking Rick up and down and noted that her daughter had not been exaggerating when she described him.
" And you must be Mrs. Knowlton, my wife has told me all about you." Rick said with a smile as he took her hand and kissed it.
Mrs. Knowlton looked somewhat shocked. " Your wife? Who is your wife?"
Evelyn was turning a slight shade of pink and was glad when Rick answered the question.
" Oh, I thought Ellen would have told you. Evelyn and I are married."
Mrs. Knowlton looked as if she were about to faint. Her mouth was open and moving but no sound was coming out. Finally, Mr. Knowlton, who had remained silent until now, shook Rick's hand and kissed Evelyn's cheek congratulating them. He then sent them on their way so that he could deal with his wife.
" Well that went well." Rick murmured in Evelyn's ear as they made their way through the guests.
At his remark, Evelyn grabbed two glasses of champagne off of a waiter's tray. And after handing one to Rick took a long gulp of hers.
" Ok… Evy, honey. I love you, but I really don't think you drinking tonight is the best idea." Rick said as his wife downed the rest of her champagne.
" And why not?" Evelyn asked angrily as she reached for another glass.
Rick quickly pulled her hand away from the tray and to his lips. " Because you can't hold your liquor very well and the last thing we need is you drunk."
Evelyn stared at her husband for a moment considering the best approach to argue. But deciding he was right sighed and kissed him quickly and softly on the lips. " I love you," she whispered.
" I love you to." he whispered back.
Guests standing around the couple were nothing but shocked at this public display of affection. As far as they knew, Evelyn Carnahan was supposed to be single and shy. But here she was, wearing a stunning evening gown and kissing a man that none of them had seen before. And all were wondering why Mrs. Knowlton had reacted that way when she had been introduced to him.
A few minutes later dinner was announced and Rick and Evelyn made their way to the head table where they would be dining with the Knowlton family. Rick was seated conveniently between Ellen and Evelyn. As the first course, consisting of Brown Windsor soup, was served the topic of conversation turned to Rick and Evelyn.
" So how exactly did you two meet?" Ellen's brother, Maxwell asked.
Rick and Evelyn glanced quickly at each other and Evelyn was the one to answer. " Rick had information on an artifact that Jonathan had discovered. We then followed the clues of the artifact, and Rick, across the desert for two days before reached The City of the Dead, which is where the artifact had been originally found. Rick, Jonathan, and I explored the tombs there and discovered some rather interesting people and artifacts from ancient Egypt."
" But weren't you in danger my dear? The desert doesn't sound very safe. Your father used to scare us by telling us stories about finding bodies buried in the sand." Mrs. Knowlton found herself enjoying this story despite herself.
" Oh yes, on one of the nights that we camped we were attacked by some of the desert people."
" Oh my goodness Evy! You could have been killed!" Mr. Knowlton said with a look of fear in his eyes. He had known Evy since she was a baby and thought of her as one of his daughters.
" You underestimate this lady Mr. Knowlton. When I heard the attackers coming I handed her my shotgun and told her to stay where she was. And instead of listening to me, she followed me into the heat of battle. And got knocked flat on her back when she shot one of the attackers." Rick said while he wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulder, pulling her close.
The second course of the meal arrived consisting of Derwentwater Duck with cumberland sauce and Bashed Neeps.
As they ate, the topic of the conversation continues to stay on Evelyn and Rick. Evelyn was now telling them about their wedding.
" Rick's proposal was quite bold. He seemed to think I wouldn't say no. So I made him sweat for a few moments before I gave him my answer," Evelyn said as she glanced at Rick giving him a wicked grin. " We got married a few days later, at one of the small chapels in Cairo, with a few of our friends who lived there, and Jonathan was the best man. The reception was held at one of the fanciest restaurants in Cairo and lasted well into the evening."
" Where was your honeymoon?" Ellen asked curious.
Rick answered that question, seeing as how Evelyn got a little uncomfortable at this new topic of conversation.
" We spent our wedding night in the restaurants hotel, in the wedding suite. We then left two days later for London."
" Are you planning on going any where for your honeymoon?" Maxwell questioned.
Rick seemed to get inpatient with this topic of conversation. He didn't quite seem to get why this family was so interested in their sex life. So in a casual but somewhat cocky manner he replied,
" London."
" I was wondering Evy, where is your dear brother Jonathan?" Mr. Knowlon quickly changed the subject, not being comfortable with hearing about Evelyn's honeymoon.
" Oh he comes home tomorrow. He was staying behind in Cairo to close up the house."
When dessert arrived, the conversation turned to other topics, much to the relief of both Evelyn and Rick. After the places were cleared, the band began to play and Rick and Evelyn made their way into the ballroom. Rick had impressed Evelyn with his dancing skills at their wedding and now he impressed everyone else.
They cuddled close as their bodies moved in time with one another and the music. Evelyn glanced over Rick's shoulder to find Ellen staring at them, basically checking Rick out. Evelyn pulled Rick closer and kissed him on the cheek. Ellen averted her eyes quickly and continued to dance with her soon to be fiancé Niles.
Evelyn loved Ellen; they had been best friends ever since they could crawl. Ellen always had more luck with boys then Evelyn, but now Evelyn had Rick and knew that that must be somewhat hard for Ellen, who everyone thought would be married first. And after a year and a half of being courted by Niles, who was the almost exact opposite of Rick, Ellen was ready to be married. Niles was in fact a very good catch. He was handsome, though not as good looking as Rick, and he worked for his father in one of the largest firms in London. Evelyn wondered why Ellen would jealous when she in fact had a perfectly good man for herself. But what ever it was, she forgave Ellen because she knew that no man was worth the cost of a friendship. In a few days everyone would have gotten knew to this new arrangement and everything would go back to normal.
Around midnight Evelyn and Rick said their goodnights and thank you's. When they arrived home, they walked up to their bedroom, Evelyn leaning on Rick because she was so tired. They quickly got ready for bed and then crawled into the welcomed softness of their bed. Once they were comfortable, Rick pulled Evelyn to him and voiced the question he had been thinking all night long.
" Their nice people Ev, why were you so worried?"
" I have no idea. I think it's because they are like family to me and if they had disapproved it would have been like my parents disapproving."
" Do you think your parents would have disapproved of me?"
" No, I think they would have loved you."
Rick smiled at her and then kissed her forehead.
" Why do you suppose they were so interested in our sex life?"
" Rick!"
" What? Evy, they kept on asking us about our wedding night and honeymoon."
" That doesn't mean they were wondering about our sex life."
" What else do you do on your wedding night or honeymoon?"
" Rick, I…you…ooh!"
Evelyn quickly rolled on her side, facing away from her husband. Who, in turn, scooted closer to her and whispered in her ear.
" God your sexy when you're angry."
" Don't even think that after a conversation like that I would even consider making love with you."
" What is it about you English people and sex? I was just giving you a compliment."
" Rick! One more word out of you and you will be sleeping on the sofa."
Rick was trying hard not to laugh at her. She was in fact angry, but she was so cute that it made it hard to take her seriously. So he simply kissed her cheek and gently nibbled on her ear.
" Goodnight, I love you."
" I love you to."
And with that Rick and Evelyn fell asleep in each other's arms having made their first appearance as husband and wife.